Orphanage Outreach Ministry
For children growing up in Ukraine, orphanages are a fact of life. While these type of institutions are almost unheard of in modern day North America, they are all too common in the countries of the former Soviet Union. There are over 100,000 orphans in Ukraine today. Most of these are social orphans – due to alcholism, drug addiction, abandonment.
Anya Bronnikova
About 2 years ago, God put a burden on Anya Bronnikova’s heart to reach orphan children with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Anya, along with her husband and son had just returned to her home town of Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine from a 10 year missions experience in Central Asia. Anya was very familiar with the state orphanges in her area and as we talked together about the fate of children raised in these sterile institutions, both MPI and Anya knew we had to do our best to help these kids.
Orphans
Children who have been abandoned by parents feel the sigma of not being loved. There is a void in their lives that is not easily filled. Even though they might have food, clothes, a bed and even good friends in a orphanage, that does not make up for the loss of their Mom and Dad. 
They withdraw into themselves and even show agression so as not to be hurt any further. It is no wonder that when they “graduate, they have no idea how to care for themsleves. Most of them have never had to cook a meal, shop in a store, clean a house or manage money. Within a few years of leaving the orphangae far too many of them fall into prostitution, drugs, and crime. This is a tragedy that does not need to be.
Mission
Anya’s goal is to change all that. Yes, she is only one person but even one person can make a difference. Anya makes regular weekly trips to several orphanages working with the kids to teach them about God, Jesus, prayer and the Bible. Sometimes she works with a group and sometimes it is one-on-one with a troubled child. All the children know Anya loves them and accepts them for who they are, without preconditions. Having an open door to teach a class on ethics and morality (using a secular curriculem that is approved by the Ministry of Education) orphange directors, Anya’s goal is to demonstrate to the children that there is a Godly way to live. One of her favorite sayings to each child is, “Test God. He loves you and will answer your prayers.”
Winning Hearts and Minds
Anya’s hard work and patience is paying off. The children watch her carefully and examine her lifestyle. They do not trust easily and time is the only measure of the effectiveness of Anya’s ministry. But as child after child has invited Jesus into their heart, lives are changing. The future is filled with hope and great possibilities for a successful life.